pyrophoren.
/ˈpʌɪrəfɔː/, U.S. /ˈpaɪrəˌfɔr/ rare.
1. Any substance capable of igniting spontaneously on contact with air or water; = pyrophorus n. 1. Now historical.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical substances > [noun] > types by properties
agent1624
analyser1661
pyrophorus1734
pyrophore1788
frigoric1812
diffusate1850
diffusant1867
cryogen1875
metachrome1876
carrier1902
getter1912
active1918
network former1947
network modifier1947
radiosensitizer1953
monophase1968
1788 J. St. John tr. L. B. Guyton de Morveau et al. Method Chym. Nomencl. 96 Pyrophore of Homberg.
1890 Amer. Anthropologist 3 360 Besides the lens, mirror, and aerophore there are pyrophores, the hydrogen lamp, matches, and various chemical and electrical methods [of making fire].
1988 Osiris 4 90 Lavoisier expanded his research on combustions that produce fixed air by studying the spontaneously combustible substance known as pyrophore.
2. A firefly of the genus Pyrophorus; = pyrophorus n. 2.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Elateridae > elaterid fire-fly
fireworm1567
cucuy1605
salamander-fly1668
lightning bug1778
firebug1789
glow-fly1789
fire beetle1826
lightning beetle1854
meadow-fly1867
pyrophore1884
1884 Science 28 Nov. 505/1 The composition and properties of the light emitted by insects of the Pyrophore genus.
1913 Trans. Optical Soc. 13 51 That curious luminous insect of West India, the pyrophore.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1788